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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



"VERSES" 



BY 

EDNA DE FREMERY 



,.o1 





Copyrighted 1920 

by 
Edna de Fremery 



mi I i 1920 



PUBLISHED BY 

A. M. ROBERTSON 

SAN FRANCISCO 

I92O 



©,CUSGlo45 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Spring 9 

Rome 10 

How Many Ways 1 1 

A Gift 12 

Adieux 13 

Masquerade 14 

Parting 15 

Sister Dolores 16 

An Alter 17 

Retrospection 18 

Anticipation 19 

The Sun King 20 

Sea Voices 21 

Vallombrosa 22 

Venice 23 

Annunciation 24 

Palestine 25 

Hope 26 

Wanderlust 27 

Thy People 28 

Kismet 29 

If, After Day 30 

A Dream 31 

To My Mother 32 



SPRING 

I. 

I lived within a city street 
Where never lingered sunbeam fleet 
Or happy singing bird. 
But close outside my window grew 
A stunted, sickly tree that knew 
Spring's innocence had stirred, 
And putting forth a first pale shoot 
Of tender green, defied the soot. 

II. 

My heart had lived in darkness, till 

Like Spring upon the window-sill 

Love bade me live anew. 

So, in gold vapours of the dawn 

New life into my heart was born — 

New life that was for you. 

It flowered on my lips, a word — 

All trembling, faint, but still, you heard- 



[9 



ROME 

I. 

Noon, and the summer blue Italian skies 
Thrilling the hour — 
There under sad purple cypress, lies 
A white flower. 

II. 

Bells through the golden air, to prayer calling — 
A fountain's voice 

Sounds in an antique garden, falling, falling 
Its tears, rejoice. 

III. 

You, that were all to me, living, dying — 

Love, hope, and all — 

Dear, you are free from earth's sorrow, and 

sighing, 
But my tears fall. 



[10] 



HOW MANY WAYS 

I. 

How many ways do I love you, dear? 

Tell me, how many leaves there be 

Ere the winds set free from the orchard's gold 

The million minted leaves that hold 

The carvings of eternity — 

So many ways do I love you, dear. 

II. 

How many ways do I love, again? 

Tell me, how many tears there are 

In a world in chains, of war's bitter pains 

Sending its crimson across the main — 

And crying up to a burning star 

So many ways do I love, again. 



in] 



A GIFT 

I. 

A royal gift, you have bestowed on me 

Oh my beloved. What my lips may give 

In whispered gratitude will ever live 

Deep in my heart. Your gift has made me see 

Beyond the known, into infinity — 

New vision to my eyes that used to grieve 

O'er the dull pattern that my hands must 

weave 
In woof of frieze, upon Life's tapestry. 
Now, on my loom, love blossoms like a star 
That trembles in illimitable night 
Like shining words God whispers from afar — 
Your gold thread, for my flax, will now requite 
Oh beautiful the fabric, in my sight — 
Beyond the power of life, or death to mar. 



[iai 



ADIEUX 

I. 

Never the sickle moon 

In the sky, 

Never the rose of May, 

Ere it die, 

Will bring at evening, still, 

Aught, to my window-sill 

But grief, and falling tears. 

Through the long, lonely years 

Love, will not die. 



Ml 



MASQUERADE 

I 

Do you remember, how, a year ago 

I came to you, in an old fashioned gown ? 

The pale moon in the sky hung low 

The light of the candles had burned down — 

I half feared your frown for my fanciful dress 

But now, I know, you loved me so. 

II. 

The flowers I held in my bouquet 
Were sweet red roses and mignonette 
They were the first to hear you say 
What they, nor I, will e'er forget. 
Their breath was a delicate perfume 
That filled the room. 

III. 

We said that we two would love for aye 
As long as winds should kiss the sea 
As long as flowers seek the sun 
We promised to love, for eternity — 
Ah, don't you see, 'twas on a night of mas- 
querade 
Our vows were made? 

[Hi 



PARTING 

I. 

Parting is like death, they say- 
Yet no flowers cover me 
And the shadows on my head 
Fall not, from cypress tree. 
Green is the spring about me 
With jeweled rain drops set 
And I, with tears, remember — 
Do you, afar, forget? 



[15 



SISTER DOLORES 

I. 

As that scarred hill, which yesterday was green 
So, I, my Lord, in this dark garb of woe 
Unnatural, that shrouds me, as I go — 
Bear outward witness, to the soul thou'st 

seen. 
The silence ! Ah the silence prisons thought — 
And consciousness but mocks this show of 

death 
This apeing of tranquillity my breath 
Denies. When singing birds in snares are 

caught 
Surely their wings, that beat against the bars 
Cannot be music to God's listening ear. 
If I did grievous sin, who only loved brave 

youth — 
Bright flowers and sunshine and the happy 

truth 
Of laughter, that is holier than tears 
Then no bird's song, should rise up, 'neath the 

stars. 



[16 



AN ALTAR 

I. 

I raised an altar in my heart 

And worshipped there — 

I held it sacred and apart 

From daily care 

And thoughts were flowers offered there 

And for sweet incense, rose my prayer. 

II. 

What matters it, if gods have flown 

And no one hears? 

This sacrifice must fain atone — 

And falling tears 

Wipe out the memory of hurts unseen — 

And love remain, where faith has never been, 



[17] 



RETROSPECTION 

I. 

After long years, to see again — 

The house I shared with youth — 

How small the windows, whose narrow panes 

I thought looked out on truth. 

II. 

How steep the stairs, and strict the door 
That will not yield to me — 
I should have turned back long before, 
Truth was within, you see. 



[18] 



ANTICIPATION 

I. 

I pray that the day will die, 
Will faint, in the arms of night — 
That the first star in the sky 
May show me its holy light. 

II. 

I pray that the haste of youth 
Life's joy, and fever, and pain 
May be hushed, in love's great truth 
Nor call to my soul, again. 



[19 



THE SUN KING 

I. 

Lord of the wastes — the royal sun 
Scatters his largesse on the sands — 
Under the shade of the date palms, run 
Timid shadows, who fear his hand. 

II. 

The desert burns in triumphant light — 
Yielding a dream to one adored — 
Her gifts are roses, red, and white 
And golden silence, for her lord. 



[20] 



SEA VOICES 

I. 

Beyond the light of the headland bar — 
Beyond the city's iron grasp — 
Where the gray smoke turns to a crimson mar, 
And black masts twist in the harbor's clasp. 

II. 

There, under heaven, and free from earth — 
The great winds sing, in an ecstasy 
Of mighty freedom, and swift rebirth 
In sea songs of eternity. 



[21 



VALLOMBROSA 

I. 

Once more, in Vallombrosa, under the moon 

Hung in the skies, 

Like a silver lamp, lit too soon 

Ere the day dies. 

II. 

On the terrace, gray, marble, and moss grown 
Red roses fall- 
Sweet is their fragrance, faint, and I hear a lone 
Nightingale's call. 

III. 

Why should all other things, be fair and the 

same? 
You are not here. 
If from that other world, you would but speak 

my name 
My dear, my dear. 



[22] 



VENICE 

I. 

Ah, Venice, fairest city of the seas — 
Lying with golden light upon your spires 
You are the vision of my happiest ease 
You are the very dream of my desires. 

II. 

With my own eyes, I may not look on you 
Or learn the azure winding of your ways — 
But in my home bound heart a thought sings 

true 
No miles can hide you from my spirit's gaze. 



[23 



ANNUNCIATION 

I. 

A summer noon, in Nazareth of old — 
And in a garden, dreamed a Maid, 
Around Her, nodding lilies, starred with gold, 
And pure white doves, with coral feet, had 
strayed. 

II. 

From out the village, came the sound and calls 
Of children, playing in the dusty street, 
But in the garden holy silence falls, 
And God's bright angels, kneel at Mary's feet. 



[24 



PALESTINE 

I. 

Twilight, before the hills of Palestine 
Sad colored, like the lives of saints, 
Stretching their pure and mystic line 
Toward the east, where daylight faints. 

II. 

Age old, and melancholy rocks 
A guarding shepherd, faintly heard — 
Calling his white fleeced, patient flocks 
Are these the echo of thy Word ? 



[25] 



HOPE 

I. 

You will come back to me, some day, I know — 
Whether the years, or death, shall keep apart 
Our lives for earth's brief span. In every heart 
God's placed his touchstone, Hope. The sea 

birds go 
Daring abysmal depths, and starless night 
Fearless, before the ruthless winds of heaven — 
That wound, and buffet them, while still, 

storm driven 
They breast the sky, to find home in their 

flight. 
There is no meanest creature on the earth 
But can, for love, be noble and be brave. 
You will come back to me, some day, I know 
And in the crucible of years, I'll save 
All worthy things of bravery and mirth, 
Mixed with the tears you would not have me 

show. 



26 



WANDERLUST 

I. 

A silver path through the Golden Gate 
The salty breath of the open sea — 
I ask no more of the winds of Fate, 
Than to fly before them, and so, be free. 

II. 

To sail to the lands of far away 
O'er changing waters, of blue and green 
To touch at the shores of far Cathay, 
And tropic isles I have never seen. 

III. 

For I am sick of the sight of home 
That never was home, to the heart of me: 
The body may stay, but the soul will roam 
Fve always longed for the open sea. 



27] 



THY PEOPLE 

I. 

Thy sword is red, Oh Sultan ! 
But the moonlight silvers, nightly, 
The marble of the palace, where ladies, 

treading lightly 
With officers in turban 
Weave a scarlet thread of passion — 
The perfume of the flowers, and dance 

of latest fashion 
Soft music's rhythmic falling 
Still the voices that are calling 
"Thy sword is red, Oh Sultan ! 
And we die, beneath thy ban." 



[28 



KISMET 

I. 

Into the blue that waits outside the door 
From out the latticed court, the Sultan goes 
The singing of the fountain's voice, no more 
Will softly wake him, from a sweet repose. 

II. 

Or lips of curving crimson, touch his ^heek 
And in his ear, tell secrets of Stamboul — 
Twill naught avail, for favour there to seek 
And who wastes kisses, but an empty fool? 



29 



IF, AFTER DAY— 

I. 

If, after day, the tender twilight holds 
Fair tints of purest hue, ethereal rose 
That, in the east, in fainting beauty glows 
Laved in the largesse of the sun's spent gold — 
If, after day, a single silver star 
In perfect splendor, dawns upon the night 
And all my being answers, at the sight 
As though I saw Faith's symbol, there set high 
For lovers' eyes, if, after day, I lie, 
Wrapped in the dim divinity of dreams 
And hear your voice, and live again the hour 
That speaks in music, answers in a flower 
Making all beauty, all happiness, all tears 
Your gift to me — Ah, after day, the dreams ! 



[30 



A DREAM 

I. 

I had a dream last night 

After my tears — 

In darkness, dawned a light 

Calming my fears — 

I saw my own dead child 

Moving, with others mild 

Holding a light on high, 

Turning, to heed my cry 

With outstretched arm. 

II. 

Then, in my dream he spoke 
Soft to my woe — 
"Mother, when first I woke 
Your tears fell so 
The light I hold on high 
For new soul's, passing by 
Flickered, and would not go — 
I come, that you may know, 
Such tears do harm." 



[31 



TO MY MOTHER 

I. 

I heard of Heaven — free from strife 
For all true souls of perfect will 
But you have made the gift of life 
So dear, I long to keep it still 
All other worlds I would forego 
To share this, with the heart I know. 

II. 

I heard there's nothing lasting here 

But permanence above — 

Back from that thought I turn in fear 

To shelter in your lasting love. 

No saint in Paradise could be 

What you, on earth, are now, to me. 



32] 



SUNSET PRESS 

SAN FRANCISCO 



